Here's something that might surprise folks, given the focus of my blog. I'm not really a kid person.
I have kids, and I think they're totally awesome young women; I enjoy their company, I look forward to weekends and summer vacations because they'll be around more. They're just cool people.
But, in general, I'm not child-oriented. I don't avoid kid-focused activity but I don't seek it out either. Because, on the whole, I'm just not that fond of children. (I'm really not a big baby fan. Never got that "baby hunger" people talk about--and I was 32 when my oldest was born, so it's likely that if I was going to get it, I would have by then. I have no desire to cuddle (or have much of anything to do with) other people's babies.)
Don't get me wrong--I loved my babies when they were babies. I've loved them, loved spending time with them, at every age they've been. But I find that as soon as my own kids pass a certain age, I rapidly lose tolerance for other kids who are still at that age or below. In general I prefer the company of adults.
So what does all this have to do with comic books (apart from the fact that ours won't arrive until next week and I have nothing much else to talk about)?
Just this, I guess. Kids don't buy comics. My kids, who love comics, probably wouldn't buy them if they had to spend their own meager allowance on them. The folks who buy kid-focused comics, on the whole, are parents and grandparents, aunts and uncles, older sisters and brothers. Adults with some connection to kids. That narrows the purchasing pool even further, because the only folks who buy comics for kids are adults who like comics, who know kids who also like comics.
When I was a kid (back when we had to walk three miles in a blizzard, uphill, both ways, to get to the corner store to get our comics), if I went comic shopping with three dollars in my pocket, I might come home with six or eight titles. Now that buys one. Granted that it's a better quality product. But when folks say that comics are no longer for children, they're pretty much right.
Right now, I'm concerned with the need for kid-friendly comics. Because I have kids who are young enough that that's a concern. They like the Marvel Adventures line (hey, who doesn't?). The eight-year-old likes Scooby Doo. They used to like DC's kid-oriented Teen Titans Go and Justice League Unlimited, but the twelve-year-old has since moved on to the regular Titans book (presumably that's as DC likes it :)) and never did like the Justice League Unlimited cartoon as much as she liked the earlier version.
They also read quite a few of the books I get, but I do make a point of getting things that are specifically aimed at their age group as well.
And when I no longer have kids in that age group, I will no longer be part of the market for these books. (Well, maybe Marvel Adventures Avengers. That book is wicked funny!) Because, once my kids are grown, I know I'll be unlikely to seek out kid-focused products. Hopefully someone else will be by then.
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Sunday, April 22, 2007
The latest thing
What with getting my comics only once a month, I often don't have much to say for weeks at a time. No new comics often = no new discussion. Unless something interesting or amusing is going on online, of course. Specifically...
All the discussion on that JSA cover featuring Citizen Steel and his little friend. I've got to say that I probably wouldn't even have noticed this if attention hadn't been drawn to it all over the comic internets. That said, yeah, it's there, and I don't see what the big deal is. (So to speak.) The image taken as a whole really doesn't point in that direction. (So to speak.) Heck, I'm as fond as the next straight woman of that part of the male anatomy, but this just isn't a picture that would catch my eye. (Apart from the "oooh, shiny!" factor, of course.)
As many have pointed out, the character is not sexualized in the picture. "The Bulge" is just a matter of anatomy. He isn't coming on to the viewer, he hasnt' taken an erotic pose. No come-hither stare, no forward-thrusting hips, no pouting lips or slightly open mouth. He's just standing there, really. I'm not seeing the gratuitous here.
All the discussion on that JSA cover featuring Citizen Steel and his little friend. I've got to say that I probably wouldn't even have noticed this if attention hadn't been drawn to it all over the comic internets. That said, yeah, it's there, and I don't see what the big deal is. (So to speak.) The image taken as a whole really doesn't point in that direction. (So to speak.) Heck, I'm as fond as the next straight woman of that part of the male anatomy, but this just isn't a picture that would catch my eye. (Apart from the "oooh, shiny!" factor, of course.)
As many have pointed out, the character is not sexualized in the picture. "The Bulge" is just a matter of anatomy. He isn't coming on to the viewer, he hasnt' taken an erotic pose. No come-hither stare, no forward-thrusting hips, no pouting lips or slightly open mouth. He's just standing there, really. I'm not seeing the gratuitous here.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
I want this and I want it bad.
Marvel is putting out Invaders Classic Volume 1, coming out in July.
240 pages of 1970s Invaders goodness.
And "Volume 1" means that there will be more.
Let the squealing commence.
240 pages of 1970s Invaders goodness.
And "Volume 1" means that there will be more.
Let the squealing commence.
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Nostalgia equity
When I was finishing up my commentary on last month's comics, I found myself using the phrase "nostalgia equity." Today I found myself thinking about what that meant and how much it was worth.
What I mean when I say "nostalgia equity" is that an item (say, a comic book) has a personal value above and beyond the quality of the book itself. That, if I've got a long history reading a book, a long-standing affection for its characters, that book is worth more to me personally than a book of equal quality (in terms of story and art) where I lack that emotional connection. Time I spent with the books, the characters, builds their value to me as an individual.
That's most of the reason I tend toward Marvel comics. I grew up reading Marvel. I was never averse to reading DC books (that'd be the husband, who refers to the DC cover logo as a "warning label" :)). I just didn't read them as a rule, apart from the Legion of Superheroes in whatever title they were occupying. Silver Age DC wasn't something I cared for as a kid.
Now, I do read DC books and have developed a fondness for some of the characters. But Wonder Woman and Green Lantern aren't "old friends" in the same way that Iron Man and the Scarlet Witch are.
It's possible, by the way, for a book to lose its nostalgia equity. It has happened to the Legion of Superheroes. It's still a pretty good book, but the characters aren't the same characters I grew up with (and I mean that literally, not just in terms of character change, which I can live with--hell, I still mostly like and am interested in Iron Man, even after Civil War! :)), and at some point the connection I felt to the book was gone. (It probably started back when they had the two Legion teams, one young and one older...) But something pretty big has to happen for that to occur, something that, to me, changes the essence of the character. Doesn't mean that I'd stop reading a book featuring that character, but it does mean that the book no longer gets to coast on my childhood memories.
What this means practically is that I will usually have more patience with a Marvel book if there's a temporary drop in quality. The nostalgia factor will carry a book along for a while. That's why I've never given up on the Avengers, whatever the incarnation. (On the whole I'm glad of this, because I've enjoyed most of what I've seen.) It's why, while I was occasionally annoyed with the delays in the current Iron Man series, I never considered taking it off the list. And it's why I dropped Wonder Woman and Green Lantern as soon as they started to bore me. In fairness, there are DC books that would get more of a break, but none that would get the break that, say, Fantastic Four would.
I suppose this means that I'm not necessarily the most reliable opinion with regard to comics, but at least I recognize my bias. :)
What I mean when I say "nostalgia equity" is that an item (say, a comic book) has a personal value above and beyond the quality of the book itself. That, if I've got a long history reading a book, a long-standing affection for its characters, that book is worth more to me personally than a book of equal quality (in terms of story and art) where I lack that emotional connection. Time I spent with the books, the characters, builds their value to me as an individual.
That's most of the reason I tend toward Marvel comics. I grew up reading Marvel. I was never averse to reading DC books (that'd be the husband, who refers to the DC cover logo as a "warning label" :)). I just didn't read them as a rule, apart from the Legion of Superheroes in whatever title they were occupying. Silver Age DC wasn't something I cared for as a kid.
Now, I do read DC books and have developed a fondness for some of the characters. But Wonder Woman and Green Lantern aren't "old friends" in the same way that Iron Man and the Scarlet Witch are.
It's possible, by the way, for a book to lose its nostalgia equity. It has happened to the Legion of Superheroes. It's still a pretty good book, but the characters aren't the same characters I grew up with (and I mean that literally, not just in terms of character change, which I can live with--hell, I still mostly like and am interested in Iron Man, even after Civil War! :)), and at some point the connection I felt to the book was gone. (It probably started back when they had the two Legion teams, one young and one older...) But something pretty big has to happen for that to occur, something that, to me, changes the essence of the character. Doesn't mean that I'd stop reading a book featuring that character, but it does mean that the book no longer gets to coast on my childhood memories.
What this means practically is that I will usually have more patience with a Marvel book if there's a temporary drop in quality. The nostalgia factor will carry a book along for a while. That's why I've never given up on the Avengers, whatever the incarnation. (On the whole I'm glad of this, because I've enjoyed most of what I've seen.) It's why, while I was occasionally annoyed with the delays in the current Iron Man series, I never considered taking it off the list. And it's why I dropped Wonder Woman and Green Lantern as soon as they started to bore me. In fairness, there are DC books that would get more of a break, but none that would get the break that, say, Fantastic Four would.
I suppose this means that I'm not necessarily the most reliable opinion with regard to comics, but at least I recognize my bias. :)
Very brief thoughts on March's comics (Part 3) [Spoilers]
All New Atom #9
Still one of the most fun books I read every month. Even this tale of zombies, lost love, and betrayal doesn't bring the reader down. Nice that the seemingly-stereotypical characters (the schoolboy crush and the schoolyard nemesis) have turned out to be much more complex, particularly in a book that's been, thus far, pretty light reading (I mean that in a good way).
But you know, for some reason the kids just don't care much for this book. I haven't figured that one out.
Fantastic Four #543
I didn't care much for the two extra stories at the end of the book, so won't comment on them. The main story, though, was fine. I liked the back-and-forth between Ben and Johnny (they've mellowed a lot over the years, haven't they?). I liked the general format--the story told by way of a television show about the FF, watched by Ben and Johnny--particularly the bits with Doom and with Willie Lumpkin (always loved Willie--did you notice him wiggling his ears in the last panel he's in? :))
It'll be interesting to see how things work out with the Panther and Storm; it's not a bad choice--the Panther, a brilliant scientist in his own right, can take over some of Reed's function in the team directly.
Ion, Guardian of the Universe #12
I'm surprised to find myself glad that this is over. I don't recall hating it, but I'm, well, glad not to have to get it anymore. That's not saying that I wouldn't pick up an Ion ongoing in a flash, because I would. But about this issue--maybe it was the creepiness (reviving his mother), maybe it was just that it was kind of a downer of a comic--but it didn't leave me wanting more. And sometimes a limited series is like that--when it's over, it'd just over, and that's okay. Other times--as with last year's Secret Six mini--you wish it weren't. This time, I'm okay with the over.
Moon Knight #8
Apart from the uncharacteristic (to my mind) portrayal of Captain America (not that he might not have gone to see Marc, just that he probably wouldn't have been quite such a dick--then again he'd been under quite a bit of stress recently...), I liked this quite a bit. The story is coming together. Marc's relationships with those around him are also coming into focus. (Nedda is clearly terrified of him--was that always the case?) I also really like that his work is shown to be destroying his body physically, even beyond the injuries he'd received earlier--if you think about it, that would have to happen to any athlete who worked themselves that hard for that long, but most superheroes don't seem to feel any ill effects from all the rooftop-leaping and blows to the head. Not that I'd want to see that in every book, but somehow it works here--that this is part of the price he pays for his god's patronage.
Still one of the most fun books I read every month. Even this tale of zombies, lost love, and betrayal doesn't bring the reader down. Nice that the seemingly-stereotypical characters (the schoolboy crush and the schoolyard nemesis) have turned out to be much more complex, particularly in a book that's been, thus far, pretty light reading (I mean that in a good way).
But you know, for some reason the kids just don't care much for this book. I haven't figured that one out.
Fantastic Four #543
I didn't care much for the two extra stories at the end of the book, so won't comment on them. The main story, though, was fine. I liked the back-and-forth between Ben and Johnny (they've mellowed a lot over the years, haven't they?). I liked the general format--the story told by way of a television show about the FF, watched by Ben and Johnny--particularly the bits with Doom and with Willie Lumpkin (always loved Willie--did you notice him wiggling his ears in the last panel he's in? :))
It'll be interesting to see how things work out with the Panther and Storm; it's not a bad choice--the Panther, a brilliant scientist in his own right, can take over some of Reed's function in the team directly.
Ion, Guardian of the Universe #12
I'm surprised to find myself glad that this is over. I don't recall hating it, but I'm, well, glad not to have to get it anymore. That's not saying that I wouldn't pick up an Ion ongoing in a flash, because I would. But about this issue--maybe it was the creepiness (reviving his mother), maybe it was just that it was kind of a downer of a comic--but it didn't leave me wanting more. And sometimes a limited series is like that--when it's over, it'd just over, and that's okay. Other times--as with last year's Secret Six mini--you wish it weren't. This time, I'm okay with the over.
Moon Knight #8
Apart from the uncharacteristic (to my mind) portrayal of Captain America (not that he might not have gone to see Marc, just that he probably wouldn't have been quite such a dick--then again he'd been under quite a bit of stress recently...), I liked this quite a bit. The story is coming together. Marc's relationships with those around him are also coming into focus. (Nedda is clearly terrified of him--was that always the case?) I also really like that his work is shown to be destroying his body physically, even beyond the injuries he'd received earlier--if you think about it, that would have to happen to any athlete who worked themselves that hard for that long, but most superheroes don't seem to feel any ill effects from all the rooftop-leaping and blows to the head. Not that I'd want to see that in every book, but somehow it works here--that this is part of the price he pays for his god's patronage.
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Very brief thoughts on March's comics (Part 2) [Spoilers]
Cable and Deadpool #38
This is the one comic we get that everyone in the family reads. Lots of Deadpool love around here, not so much the Cable love. But that's all right, because this issue features no Cable whatsoever! Anyway. Never heard of Agent X before, but just enough backstory is given to make the story make sense, so no problem there, although the twelve-year-old was sad to see the last of Tiny Deadpool.
I have what is probably an unhealthy fondness for those slice-of-life bits with regard to Hydra or AIM or SHIELD. (Which is one reason I love Irredeemable Ant-Man.) Particularly fun was Bob--whose blog I'd love to see (and am surprised that some enterprising Deadpool fan hasn't set up a Myspace for him). I hope he makes it through the storyline.
Green Lantern Corps #10
This issue is heavy on the Soranik Natu, and since she's the main reason I read it, that makes it a good issue in my book. I have not thus far been as fond of Iolande, but I think I'm going to enjoy the dynamic between the two women.
Also happy to see Isamot again, though I would have liked to see how the confrontation (if any) between him and Qalyra played out.
And I know that I ought to be gaining greater appreciation for Guy Gardner, but so far it isn't happening. I don't dislike him, but I'm not a convert. Sorry. :)
Irredeemable Ant-Man #6
Still one of the first books I read every month (right after Captain America and the various Avengers titles). So. We get to find out what, exactly, happened to Mitch's face (and I'm so glad that it had nothing to do with formic acid). And a next issue I'm looking forward to a lot (one would think that upon discovering he had hitched a ride with Ms. Marvel, Eric would have gotten out of her purse as quickly as possible, but apparently not). Fun, evil stuff.
Justice League of America #6
Well, it's off my get-it-every-month list; I plan to get it in trade form from now on, and probably only that after glancing through the book. This first story arc really didn't do it for me, possibly because so much of it was focused on Red Tornado, who has never interested me much. That wouldn't be a problem if the story itself had drawn me in more, or if it had sparked my interest in him, but it didn't.
Justice Society of America #4
This title, on the other hand, succeeds in making me care about characters I really know nothing about. (So it can be done.) Somehow the family relationships are explained in such a way that I understand what's going on, while not interrupting the flow of the story. That's pretty impressive. In fact, I'm enjoying pretty much everything about this book, which is kind of a surprise to me, but a pleasant one.
This is the one comic we get that everyone in the family reads. Lots of Deadpool love around here, not so much the Cable love. But that's all right, because this issue features no Cable whatsoever! Anyway. Never heard of Agent X before, but just enough backstory is given to make the story make sense, so no problem there, although the twelve-year-old was sad to see the last of Tiny Deadpool.
I have what is probably an unhealthy fondness for those slice-of-life bits with regard to Hydra or AIM or SHIELD. (Which is one reason I love Irredeemable Ant-Man.) Particularly fun was Bob--whose blog I'd love to see (and am surprised that some enterprising Deadpool fan hasn't set up a Myspace for him). I hope he makes it through the storyline.
Green Lantern Corps #10
This issue is heavy on the Soranik Natu, and since she's the main reason I read it, that makes it a good issue in my book. I have not thus far been as fond of Iolande, but I think I'm going to enjoy the dynamic between the two women.
Also happy to see Isamot again, though I would have liked to see how the confrontation (if any) between him and Qalyra played out.
And I know that I ought to be gaining greater appreciation for Guy Gardner, but so far it isn't happening. I don't dislike him, but I'm not a convert. Sorry. :)
Irredeemable Ant-Man #6
Still one of the first books I read every month (right after Captain America and the various Avengers titles). So. We get to find out what, exactly, happened to Mitch's face (and I'm so glad that it had nothing to do with formic acid). And a next issue I'm looking forward to a lot (one would think that upon discovering he had hitched a ride with Ms. Marvel, Eric would have gotten out of her purse as quickly as possible, but apparently not). Fun, evil stuff.
Justice League of America #6
Well, it's off my get-it-every-month list; I plan to get it in trade form from now on, and probably only that after glancing through the book. This first story arc really didn't do it for me, possibly because so much of it was focused on Red Tornado, who has never interested me much. That wouldn't be a problem if the story itself had drawn me in more, or if it had sparked my interest in him, but it didn't.
Justice Society of America #4
This title, on the other hand, succeeds in making me care about characters I really know nothing about. (So it can be done.) Somehow the family relationships are explained in such a way that I understand what's going on, while not interrupting the flow of the story. That's pretty impressive. In fact, I'm enjoying pretty much everything about this book, which is kind of a surprise to me, but a pleasant one.
Very brief thoughts on March's comics [Spoilers]
Birds of Prey #104
A particularly great issue, due to the guesting of the Secret Six (who, I must admit, I like better than I like the Birds themselves). Barda was too awesome for words to express. Zinda was very cool, and Spy Smasher is...well, I'm not sure what to make of her yet, but she's fun. Catman and Huntress were a hoot. Not a false note in the book.
The New Avengers #28
Yu's art is starting to grow on me (apart from the general muscle-y veiny-ness of some of the figures). Liked the whole Cage in the grocery store sequence. Liked the friendliness and informality of the group's interaction, although being apart from the rest of the hero world like they are is going to have to be a stress on relationships.
To return to the art, it's kind of cool how you can compare the art in New Avengers and Mighty Avengers and see how each reflects the situation of the team it deals with--Mighty Avengers being cleaner, shinier, prettier, and New Avengers being darker, less polished, and (dare I say it?) "grittier" :).
New Excalibur #17
A little more on the warm-fuzzy side than I prefer, but not terrible (perhaps I'm just not familiar enough with the characters yet to appreciate the story), and I look forward to next issue. (Still hoping to see the Black Knight again at some point, but have been enjoying it enough on the whole right now to keep it on the get list regardless.) Possibly it's the writing I haven't been liking so much, which is odd because I seem to recall enjoying Claremont in the past (granted, that was 20 years in the past... :)); I'll have to see what I think after I read another couple of issues.
The Spirit #4
Great book as always, with a strong supporting cast developing (somehow I didn't expect that in this title, having remembered the Spirit as mostly a solo operative, but this is nice), and I think I want to be Silk Satin in my next life. :)
Wonder Woman #5
I'd taken this title off of my get list (it just wasn't a filling meal, you know?), but will be putting it back on when Gail Simone starts writing it :). The twelve-year-old will be happy. She likes Wonder Woman--rather, she likes the concept, but she hasn't been reading the book lately. I imagine that'll change when we pick it up again.
As for this one--it isn't a bad issue, just not good enough for me to keep it on my get list (especially since Wonder Woman has no "nostalgia equity" for me). Technically I suppose the question is "Is this book worth $2.99 to me?" and the answer, recently, has been "no."
A particularly great issue, due to the guesting of the Secret Six (who, I must admit, I like better than I like the Birds themselves). Barda was too awesome for words to express. Zinda was very cool, and Spy Smasher is...well, I'm not sure what to make of her yet, but she's fun. Catman and Huntress were a hoot. Not a false note in the book.
The New Avengers #28
Yu's art is starting to grow on me (apart from the general muscle-y veiny-ness of some of the figures). Liked the whole Cage in the grocery store sequence. Liked the friendliness and informality of the group's interaction, although being apart from the rest of the hero world like they are is going to have to be a stress on relationships.
To return to the art, it's kind of cool how you can compare the art in New Avengers and Mighty Avengers and see how each reflects the situation of the team it deals with--Mighty Avengers being cleaner, shinier, prettier, and New Avengers being darker, less polished, and (dare I say it?) "grittier" :).
New Excalibur #17
A little more on the warm-fuzzy side than I prefer, but not terrible (perhaps I'm just not familiar enough with the characters yet to appreciate the story), and I look forward to next issue. (Still hoping to see the Black Knight again at some point, but have been enjoying it enough on the whole right now to keep it on the get list regardless.) Possibly it's the writing I haven't been liking so much, which is odd because I seem to recall enjoying Claremont in the past (granted, that was 20 years in the past... :)); I'll have to see what I think after I read another couple of issues.
The Spirit #4
Great book as always, with a strong supporting cast developing (somehow I didn't expect that in this title, having remembered the Spirit as mostly a solo operative, but this is nice), and I think I want to be Silk Satin in my next life. :)
Wonder Woman #5
I'd taken this title off of my get list (it just wasn't a filling meal, you know?), but will be putting it back on when Gail Simone starts writing it :). The twelve-year-old will be happy. She likes Wonder Woman--rather, she likes the concept, but she hasn't been reading the book lately. I imagine that'll change when we pick it up again.
As for this one--it isn't a bad issue, just not good enough for me to keep it on my get list (especially since Wonder Woman has no "nostalgia equity" for me). Technically I suppose the question is "Is this book worth $2.99 to me?" and the answer, recently, has been "no."
Sunday, April 08, 2007
What's New On My Blogroll?
It's been a while since I've added any blogs to my blogroll--partly this is because I'm lazy, partly because it's kind of a pain to tweak the blog design. It's not because I haven't started reading any more blogs. My Bloglines is full to overflowing!
Anyway, here are a few of the blogs I've added since the last time I talked about other people's blogs.
Ami Angelwings' Heavenly Comic Reviews
I always enjoy Ami's thoughtful reviews in her unique voice. (I am old, and I'm not necessarily current on the internet slang, so occasionally I have to think a bit about what she's saying--but the netspeak tends to be pretty intuitive so I don't have to think long, and her writing is so energized that you don't notice it after a while.) Ami is fun to read and has a way of getting directly to the point. Her companion site, Ami Angelwings' Super Cute Rants of Doom, is also a good read.
Comics Make No Sense
Silver Age comic panels, taken out of context and reinterpreted. I'm a sucker for this stuff, so I look forward to this one. Recent good stuff: Reed Richards, Big Sport.
Comics Worth Reading
Intelligent ommentary and reviews of a wide range of comics, with a focus on non-mainstream books, drawing attention to comics many of us would never look twice at otherwise. Recent good stuff: Captain America: Winter Soldier, Volume 2.
Dick Hates Your Blog
Commentary on comics, the comic business, comic blogs--pretty much the entire world of comics. Very wide range of material, I always see something here that's totally new to me.
Legion of Doom
Group comic review blog covering a variety of comic genres from a number of different points of view. Probably worth reading for the screen names alone, but the reviews are also very good, strongly opinionated, and fun to read. Recent good stuff: What was the point of "Ion?"
Anyway, here are a few of the blogs I've added since the last time I talked about other people's blogs.
Ami Angelwings' Heavenly Comic Reviews
I always enjoy Ami's thoughtful reviews in her unique voice. (I am old, and I'm not necessarily current on the internet slang, so occasionally I have to think a bit about what she's saying--but the netspeak tends to be pretty intuitive so I don't have to think long, and her writing is so energized that you don't notice it after a while.) Ami is fun to read and has a way of getting directly to the point. Her companion site, Ami Angelwings' Super Cute Rants of Doom, is also a good read.
Comics Make No Sense
Silver Age comic panels, taken out of context and reinterpreted. I'm a sucker for this stuff, so I look forward to this one. Recent good stuff: Reed Richards, Big Sport.
Comics Worth Reading
Intelligent ommentary and reviews of a wide range of comics, with a focus on non-mainstream books, drawing attention to comics many of us would never look twice at otherwise. Recent good stuff: Captain America: Winter Soldier, Volume 2.
Dick Hates Your Blog
Commentary on comics, the comic business, comic blogs--pretty much the entire world of comics. Very wide range of material, I always see something here that's totally new to me.
Legion of Doom
Group comic review blog covering a variety of comic genres from a number of different points of view. Probably worth reading for the screen names alone, but the reviews are also very good, strongly opinionated, and fun to read. Recent good stuff: What was the point of "Ion?"
Saturday, April 07, 2007
The last of the Civil War books
Civil War: Front Line #11
I started out liking this series more than any of the other CW stuff, but I've liked it less and less as time went on, and I think that's because I've liked Sally Floyd less and less as time went on.
The whole Myspace thing? I'd seen it mentioned online. Figured at first it was someone's joke, filling in the word balloons with something funny instead of whatever was really there. Nope, she actually said it. Possibly Sally hit her head on a turnstile while hiding in the subway? (BTW, I'm pretty sure that Cap knows who won the World Series--ever seen a WWII movie? That generation, love of baseball was practically universal.) Hell, I've never been to a NASCAR race, and I have exactly one friend who follows it at all. Does that make me un-American, that I may not be familiar with some aspects of various American subcultures? That stuff is superficial. (So's "Mom and apple pie," incidentally.)
I wasn't all that impressed with the Iron Man part of this issue, either. I'm inclined to side with the folks who see some sarcasm in Sally's applause (although after what she said in the first half of the book I'm not absolutely certain), and in any case it's clear that understanding what Tony has done doesn't lead to respecting him for it.
Civil War: The Confession
Taken in combination with Front Line 11, it does look like Marvel's strategy for making Tony likable again starts out with making him all sad and emo. Maybe the idea is that if folks feel sorry for him, they won't hate him anymore? (I don't think it works like that. I know it doesn't in real life.) Really, I do feel bad for him, having been fairly fond of the character for 30 years or so, but that's tempered by the fact that it's all pretty much his own doing, and it's not (so far) helping me regain much of the fondness.
I started out liking this series more than any of the other CW stuff, but I've liked it less and less as time went on, and I think that's because I've liked Sally Floyd less and less as time went on.
The whole Myspace thing? I'd seen it mentioned online. Figured at first it was someone's joke, filling in the word balloons with something funny instead of whatever was really there. Nope, she actually said it. Possibly Sally hit her head on a turnstile while hiding in the subway? (BTW, I'm pretty sure that Cap knows who won the World Series--ever seen a WWII movie? That generation, love of baseball was practically universal.) Hell, I've never been to a NASCAR race, and I have exactly one friend who follows it at all. Does that make me un-American, that I may not be familiar with some aspects of various American subcultures? That stuff is superficial. (So's "Mom and apple pie," incidentally.)
I wasn't all that impressed with the Iron Man part of this issue, either. I'm inclined to side with the folks who see some sarcasm in Sally's applause (although after what she said in the first half of the book I'm not absolutely certain), and in any case it's clear that understanding what Tony has done doesn't lead to respecting him for it.
Civil War: The Confession
Taken in combination with Front Line 11, it does look like Marvel's strategy for making Tony likable again starts out with making him all sad and emo. Maybe the idea is that if folks feel sorry for him, they won't hate him anymore? (I don't think it works like that. I know it doesn't in real life.) Really, I do feel bad for him, having been fairly fond of the character for 30 years or so, but that's tempered by the fact that it's all pretty much his own doing, and it's not (so far) helping me regain much of the fondness.
Friday, April 06, 2007
Captain America #25 [Spoilers]
This is the one, out of all the month's comics, I've been waiting for. Actually, it's my favorite book. It's the one I wait for every month. But especially this month.
I"ve heard a lot about it, of course. It would have been hard to avoid, and honestly I don't ever try very hard not to be spoiled on comics--when you get them once a month, spoilage is almost inevitable. It's all right, it's not a problem.
I'm going to go all fangirl for a moment and just say that I continue to be impressed with this title. Granted that as a long-time comic reader, my expectations may be low, but honestly, I can't recall a book that has been this good for this long. So there won't be much complaining from me.
Things I liked:
A couple of thoughts inspired by the internet. First, I've seen folks online complain about the way in which Cap died--that it wasn't "big" enough, that he should have died saving a busload of orphans from Skrulls, something more dramatic or "heroic." Honestly, I think that the way it went--that he was initially shot trying to save a single life--was just fine in that respect, underlining the fact that to Cap the saving of that single life is as important as any other heroic thing he could do. (Yes, I know that's not what killed him, but it's the reason he consciously put his life in danger.)
Another thing I've seen touched on online is the question of whether Sharon actually did shoot Cap, or was the memory itself implanted in her. It does seem unlikely that Cap, at least, wouldn't have known who shot him. On the other hand, if Sharon had shot Cap, it would have been clear to him from her subsequent behavior that she was under someone else's influence, so he wouldn't necessarily have acted any differently toward her than he did here. There are some visual differences between the scene we see and the scene she remembers, but nothing that would lead me to think one thing or the other, so I'll just be hoping that it wasn't her, and not suprised if it was.
By the way, Sin? Currently one of my favorite villains. You don't get a lot of bad guys who are just bad like that.
I"ve heard a lot about it, of course. It would have been hard to avoid, and honestly I don't ever try very hard not to be spoiled on comics--when you get them once a month, spoilage is almost inevitable. It's all right, it's not a problem.
I'm going to go all fangirl for a moment and just say that I continue to be impressed with this title. Granted that as a long-time comic reader, my expectations may be low, but honestly, I can't recall a book that has been this good for this long. So there won't be much complaining from me.
Things I liked:
- The narration by Sharon, Bucky and Sam in turn, their very different voices.
- That Cap's wartime romance with Peggy is mentioned at all, weird as the whole "dating the aunt/niece" thing is. (BTW, if you look at the old Captain America comics from the 40s, the recurring woman is named "Betty Ross"--presumably never revived in the 60s because Silver Age Marvel already had a Betty Ross. Although Cap and Betty's relationship never appeared to move beyond the platonic.)
- The entire Winter Soldier/Falcon interaction (and Bucky is definitely drawn as a thirty-something in this issue).
- The brief scene with Lukin, the Skull and Faustus, with Lukin/Skull referring to themselves as "we"--telling because Faustus apparently knows the situation and they don't have to pretend to be just one or the other. I wonder if this indicates the degree of merging that has gone on over time.
- Sin's concern for Brock--when the Skull orders her not to help him, but to continue with the original plan, she does it, but she's clearly not happy about it. There's the potential for some conflict here.
- Steve's last words (that we see) to Sharon.
- As always, the fact that Steve Epting draws clothing on his characters (as opposed to spray-painting naked bodies in costume colors). It's sad when that's rare enough that you notice it, isn't it?
A couple of thoughts inspired by the internet. First, I've seen folks online complain about the way in which Cap died--that it wasn't "big" enough, that he should have died saving a busload of orphans from Skrulls, something more dramatic or "heroic." Honestly, I think that the way it went--that he was initially shot trying to save a single life--was just fine in that respect, underlining the fact that to Cap the saving of that single life is as important as any other heroic thing he could do. (Yes, I know that's not what killed him, but it's the reason he consciously put his life in danger.)
Another thing I've seen touched on online is the question of whether Sharon actually did shoot Cap, or was the memory itself implanted in her. It does seem unlikely that Cap, at least, wouldn't have known who shot him. On the other hand, if Sharon had shot Cap, it would have been clear to him from her subsequent behavior that she was under someone else's influence, so he wouldn't necessarily have acted any differently toward her than he did here. There are some visual differences between the scene we see and the scene she remembers, but nothing that would lead me to think one thing or the other, so I'll just be hoping that it wasn't her, and not suprised if it was.
By the way, Sin? Currently one of my favorite villains. You don't get a lot of bad guys who are just bad like that.
Sunday, April 01, 2007
Mighty Avengers #1 [Spoilers]
Assorted thoughts:
The team line-up isn't bad, although I notice that out of the three female members, Tony Stark has slept with at least two of them.
I like Carol as leader, and am wondering how long before she and Stark have a real showdown on some substantial point of disagreement.
Tony is building a new helicarrier. (So much--presumably--for the missing Nick Fury's ability to peer into SHIELD goings-on easily.) According to the comic, the original was designed by Tony along with Reed Richards, while the new one is "a sole copyright of Stark Industries." Wonder whether the next director of SHIELD will feel secure in it, because I'm guessing there's plenty in it that isn't going into the general handbook. Tony thinks ahead ("futurist," right?) and my thought is that this could be is his way of keeping his hand in even at a point in the future when he's no longer a part of SHIELD.
Carol's ambivalance about the Wasp. She thinks she's a good hero, but clearly doesn't care for her as a person ("Focus on the monsters, you unbelievable tramp."). This is new, but not particularly out of character--Carol's approach to Avenging has always been very direct and professional, while the Wasp has always had fun with her job--doesn't mean she doesn't take it seriously, just a different approach.
The Sentry. Tony seem awfully optimistic about him, and I think it's likely he just wants to keep Bob where he can see him. He's fun to watch, though.
The Mole Man! I love the Mole Man! That's nostalgia talking, by the way--the Mole Man was one of my favorite old Fantastic Four villains--but I'm still always happy when he turns up.
The big finish, with Iron Man morphing into Girl Ultron. Presumably this is even possible only because of Extremis. I'm not sure what the benefit of the new form would be for Ultron, who has always identified as a boy robot in the past (to the point of creating a female-bodied bride for himself back in the 70s), but I guess we'll find out. If there turns out to be no actual reason for it (other than "ooh! hot sexy robot chick!"), I'll find that disappointing.
The team line-up isn't bad, although I notice that out of the three female members, Tony Stark has slept with at least two of them.
I like Carol as leader, and am wondering how long before she and Stark have a real showdown on some substantial point of disagreement.
Tony is building a new helicarrier. (So much--presumably--for the missing Nick Fury's ability to peer into SHIELD goings-on easily.) According to the comic, the original was designed by Tony along with Reed Richards, while the new one is "a sole copyright of Stark Industries." Wonder whether the next director of SHIELD will feel secure in it, because I'm guessing there's plenty in it that isn't going into the general handbook. Tony thinks ahead ("futurist," right?) and my thought is that this could be is his way of keeping his hand in even at a point in the future when he's no longer a part of SHIELD.
Carol's ambivalance about the Wasp. She thinks she's a good hero, but clearly doesn't care for her as a person ("Focus on the monsters, you unbelievable tramp."). This is new, but not particularly out of character--Carol's approach to Avenging has always been very direct and professional, while the Wasp has always had fun with her job--doesn't mean she doesn't take it seriously, just a different approach.
The Sentry. Tony seem awfully optimistic about him, and I think it's likely he just wants to keep Bob where he can see him. He's fun to watch, though.
The Mole Man! I love the Mole Man! That's nostalgia talking, by the way--the Mole Man was one of my favorite old Fantastic Four villains--but I'm still always happy when he turns up.
The big finish, with Iron Man morphing into Girl Ultron. Presumably this is even possible only because of Extremis. I'm not sure what the benefit of the new form would be for Ultron, who has always identified as a boy robot in the past (to the point of creating a female-bodied bride for himself back in the 70s), but I guess we'll find out. If there turns out to be no actual reason for it (other than "ooh! hot sexy robot chick!"), I'll find that disappointing.
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